The bell above the cafe door jingled softly as Alina pushed it open, her arms already aching from carrying the crate of mugs she had just finished unpacking. The familiar smell of roasted beans and vanilla hit her immediately, curling around her like a comfort she hadn't realized she'd been craving. The little cafe was quiet at this hour, just the hum of the espresso machine, the faint music Maya always insisted on playing from her ancient radio, and the soft scrape of chairs as Alina set the mugs down on the counter.
Maya was behind the register, half-bent over a thick stack of papers. Her brow furrowed in concentration, lips moving soundlessly as she scribbled something, crossed it out, then scribbled again. She didn't even look up when Alina dropped the box onto the counter with a sigh.
"Another delivery," Alina muttered, brushing dust from her hands. "We're going to run out of space for mugs at this rate."
Maya finally glanced up, and the spark in her eyes told Alina this wasn't just a paperwork day. Something was buzzing behind that smile, something she hadn't yet revealed.
"You're just in time," Maya said, straightening. She smoothed the papers into a neat stack and tapped them against the counter for emphasis. "I've been waiting to tell you this."
Alina raised a brow. "Tell me what? That you're finally going to replace that radio before it explodes?"
Maya laughed, shaking her head. "No, silly. Bigger than that. Much bigger." She leaned forward, lowering her voice as though the walls might eavesdrop. "I've decided we're opening up service."
Alina blinked. "Service?"
"Delivery service," Maya clarified, her grin widening. "Coffee, pastries, full orders straight to the doorstep. Or the office desk. Whoever calls, we'll be the ones to answer."
Alina's mouth fell open slightly. She stared at her friend, unsure if this was another one of Maya's wild mid-morning fantasies or a genuine plan. "You mean… we're going to start delivering coffee? Like… a chain?"
"Not like a chain," Maya said quickly, shaking her head. "Better. More personal. We're not just throwing drinks into cardboard cups and shoving them into paper bags. This is our cafe, our touch. We'll sign clients, deliver every day, and make ourselves indispensable. The city is full of people who can't live without their caffeine. Why shouldn't it be our coffee they can't live without?"
Alina's stomach twisted. Maya was serious. She could tell from the sparkle in her eyes, from the certainty in her tone.
"Delivery takes staff, Maya," Alina said carefully. "You can't just decide this overnight. Who's going to run around carrying trays of coffee while you're here running the shop?"
Maya grinned knowingly, like she'd been waiting for that exact question. "Great question! You know what's the best part? You."
Alina froze. "Excuse me?"
"You'll handle deliveries, at least for some time," Maya said, her voice breezy, as though she were assigning a simple chore. "I'll cover the cafe. You'll cover the clients. Once we're making enough, we'll hire waiters or drivers. But until then, we need to start somewhere. And Alina…" She softened, her gaze almost pleading now. "You're the one I trust to do this right."
''If you're not okay, then I will deliver; you make the coffee. Deal?''
''I'm fine with delivering!''
Maya laughed, unbothered by the bite in her tone. "Exactly. Think of it this way...it's temporary. Just until we land some steady money. After that, you won't have to lift a finger.
Alina rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop the small tug of a smile at the corner of her lips. Maya's optimism was exhausting sometimes, but it was also impossible not to be pulled into it.
"So," Alina asked slowly, "you already have clients lined up?"
That grin again, the one that meant trouble. Maya slid one of the papers across the counter with a little flourish.
"Not just clients," she said proudly. "A big client. Signed, sealed, and waiting for us to deliver."
Alina pulled the paper closer, scanning the neat lines of text. It was a contract, simple, professional, the kind of thing she hadn't expected Maya to ever have the patience to draft, let alone finalize. At the top, the name of a company was typed in bold. Even before she could see Maya snatch the papers from her hand. Something was fishy about the familiarity, which made her stomach flutter nervously. Although the fact is that she didn't even see anything.
"A big client?" Alina repeated, her brows drawing together.
Maya's grin widened. "Huge. They've got an office full of people who survive on caffeine. One order from them is like ten walk-in customers at once. And they want it every morning."
Alina set the paper down carefully, like it might burn if she held it too long. "And you just… signed this? Without telling me?"
"Of course I signed it." Maya leaned her elbows on the counter, chin propped on her hands. "Alina, this is the break we've been waiting for. Do you realize what this means? Consistent money. A reputation. If we pull this off, other offices will follow. It'll snowball."
Alina pressed her lips together, weighing her words. "And by 'we,' you mean me carrying thermoses of hot coffee across the city, while you're here making eyes at customers?"
Maya straightened, feigning offense. "Excuse me, I do more than make eyes at customers. I manage the register. I organize supplies. I…" She paused, then smirked. "Okay, fine, maybe I charm a little. But someone has to. And you..." she pointed a finger dramatically at Alina "...are the reliable one. The one who can walk into an office full of strangers and not drop the tray."
Alina groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Maya…"
Maya softened then, her teasing slipping into something gentler. "Look, I know it sounds overwhelming. And maybe it is. But I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe you could do it. You'll only have to handle the one client for now. Think of it as… a trial run. Once we've got cash flow, we'll hire help. Promise."
Alina studied her friend, trying to summon irritation, but all she saw was the same determination that had carried Maya through every half-crazy idea they'd tried since opening the cafe. There was no shaking her when she got that glint in her eyes.
"And if we mess up?" Alina asked quietly.
"We won't," Maya replied immediately. "Because you won't."
For a moment, the cafe fell quiet again, the hum of the espresso machine filling the space between them. Alina exhaled slowly, shoulders sinking in resignation.
"You really know how to corner me, you know that?"
Maya grinned triumphantly. "I prefer to think of it as inspiring you."
"Inspiring me to become your delivery mule."
"Temporary mule," Maya corrected, wagging a finger. "Big client today, waiters tomorrow. Just imagine it ...we'll sit back, sipping our own coffee, while employees do all the hard work. Doesn't that sound nice?"
Alina couldn't help it....she laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously smart," Maya shot back without missing a beat.
Alina's laughter faded into a quieter smile. Maybe Maya was ridiculous. But she was also right. This was an opportunity, one they couldn't afford to waste.
"All right," Alina said finally, her tone somewhere between reluctant and resolved. "I'll do it. I'll deliver your precious big client's coffee."
Maya clapped her hands together like a child on Christmas morning. "Yes! I knew you'd say yes. I'll prep the orders, you'll handle the delivery, and together we'll make this cafe impossible to ignore."
Alina shook her head again, but this time there was no fight in it. Just a quiet acceptance. She had no idea what awaited her behind the name printed at the top of that contract.
Maya had barely finished her triumphant little speech about waiters and empires when her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at the screen, and her whole expression shifted. Bright, focused, almost electric.
"That's them," she breathed, swiping the call before Alina could ask.
Alina leaned back, arms crossed, watching as Maya's voice turned sugar-sweet. "Yes, yes! Absolutely. It'll be ready in fifteen. No delays, promise." Her tone was all polished professionalism, but the moment she hung up, she dropped the act and squealed under her breath.
"That was the order," Maya announced, practically bouncing on her toes. "Our first delivery to the big client. It's happening!"
Alina blinked. "Now? As in, right now?"
"Mm-hmm." Maya darted behind the counter, already pulling paper cups and lids from the shelf. "They want a bulk batch for their meeting. Fifteen cups, assorted...espresso, cappuccino, two caramel lattes..."
Alina's stomach sank. "Fifteen? That's not just a walk across the street."
"Of course not." Maya's grin turned mischievous, like she'd been waiting for this. She pulled something from under the counter and tossed it across. Alina caught it awkwardly, realizing it was a raincoat, thick, plastic, slightly oversized, with a faint smell of rubber.
"…What's this?"
"Your armor," Maya declared proudly. "It's monsoon season, remember? You can't exactly show up drenched. You'll look like a sad, soggy intern."
Alina raised a brow. "And you're giving me this, why?"
"Because you're going to deliver."
Alina let the coat dangle from her fingers. "Wait, hold on. I agreed in theory. Like, in the vague future. Not tonight, in a downpour."
"Not tonight," Maya corrected. "Right now. In about ten minutes. Don't worry, I've got everything covered."
Alina followed her gaze to the window. The streets outside were slick with rain, headlights blurring into hazy streaks. People darted across with umbrellas, splashing through shallow puddles. It was the kind of night meant for curling up indoors, not weaving through traffic with coffee strapped to your back.
"Maya…" she started, already shaking her head.
But her friend was way ahead of her. From outside, a loud beep-beep echoed. Maya's grin widened as she dashed toward the cafe door and swung it open. Parked by the curb was a small rental scooter, gleaming under the rain-slicked streetlight. A bright delivery box had been fixed to the back, its plastic surface still shiny, like it hadn't seen a single trip yet.
"You rented a bike?" Alina's voice rose in disbelief.
"Correction: I rented our bike," Maya said smugly. "A whole month, prepaid. Comes with the box, straps, everything. No more depending on cabs or tuk-tuks. We're official."
Alina stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "When did you even...."
"Two days ago," Maya interrupted. "Because I knew you'd agree. Don't look so shocked. I trust my instincts."
Alina rubbed her temples. "This is insane."
"This is genius." Maya moved closer, holding out the raincoat again. "Come on. The client's expecting us. You can drive, right?"
Alina hesitated. She could drive. She just hadn't expected to do it with a ticking clock and fifteen coffees rattling in the back.
Maya's eyes softened, her voice gentler now. "Listen… this is big for me. For us. Promise me you won't mess this up, okay? Just this one delivery. It could open doors we can't even imagine."
Alina looked at her, really looked. For once, the usual bravado had slipped from Maya's face. She wasn't just excited, she was scared. Scared of losing the chance, scared of failing. That vulnerability made something twist in Alina's chest.
"Fine," she sighed, finally tugging on the raincoat. The oversized sleeves swallowed her hands. "But if I skid and end up in a ditch?"
Maya grinned in relief, already loading steaming cups into the delivery box with careful hands. "Don't worry, you won't skid. You're too stubborn to."
Minutes later, Alina stood by the scooter, helmet in hand, rain pattering steadily against the visor. The delivery box clicked shut behind her, the faint smell of fresh coffee seeping out, rich and intoxicating even through the damp air.
Maya leaned against the cafe doorframe, arms crossed, grinning like a proud coach sending her player into the arena. "Go get 'em, delivery queen. Make me proud."
Alina slid the helmet on, adjusted the strap, and swung a leg over the bike. The engine buzzed to life, a nervous hum under her palms.
For a heartbeat, she looked back at Maya, who gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
And then she rolled forward, into the rain-slick streets, carrying with her not just coffee, but the weight of Maya's promise, the cafe's fragile dreams....
And unknowingly, straight toward someone who would change everything.